Author Archives: Elaine Spires

Shelley Wilson

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Look who is my guest on Hot Holidays! today….. Shelley Wilson!

As you all know, Shelley wears several hats; writing as S L Wilson she is the author of the most wonderful young adult fantasy novels, which blend a love of the supernatural with strong female protagonists and include the fabulous The Guardians Series. And Shelley’s non-fiction work is rooted in a passion for helping women to believe in themselves and become strong, motivated individuals. Can you spot the common thread between the two genres? Her non-fiction books include How I Changed My Life In A Year – which is … Read the rest »

Worst Nightmare

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No – not Brexit!
I have had a writers nightmare this week. Or rather nightmares, in the plural. APUA (Antigua Public Utilities Authority – motto Necessary….for life) are in the process of “load shedding” at the moment. I do not understand what this is, but it involves the power going off for two or three hours several times a day. On Monday, I had my coffee and breakfast, flexed my fingers and sat down ready to get on with my book when I realised the power was off and both my iPad and laptop needed charging. My fault I know!!! … Read the rest »

The Great Escape

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Yesterday was the 30th anniversary of the day I grabbed my daughter and ran for my life. At the time I was living in Ibiza, and I had a Chinese restaurant that was sub-let, ran a very successful language school that I had built up from two to a hundred and six students in the space of a year and worked in the mornings for the Spanish Ministry of Work teaching English on their Adult Training for Work Programme. I lived in a large, attractive flat, albeit a rented property and drove a brand new car. I had a gorgeous … Read the rest »

My Little Grand Tour

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It was over so quickly; my Little Grand Tour. Two and a half weeks passed in the blink of an eye. But what a two and a half weeks they were!
I left V C Bird International Airport on 28th May. It was the first time I’d left from the new terminal building and I was very pleasantly impressed – apart from the attitude of the Immigration Officer – Did you have to look so bored, Miss? Nobody likes being yawned at! – and the cost of a diet coke and bag of crisps… $27EC!!! I know that airports are … Read the rest »

A Pool of Grateful Tears

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Today is a day I’ve imagined all my life. Well, for most of it, at any rate; since I was seventeen and went on a school trip to Mallorca. We went by boat and train that first year, upgrading to a plane the following year. And as we went through the South of France and then along the Costa Brava towards Barcelona, the sight that most impressed me was the houses with their own pools. You see, in Dagenham at that time nobody had a pool. I’m not even sure anyone does now. No, you went over Valence or Leys … Read the rest »

Jon Steele

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My Hot Holidays! guest today is Jon Steele, the author of a very different book, Can I Ask You A Personal Question? It gives us a thousand funny, sexy, thought-provoking, mischievous, cheeky and very nosey questions to ask ourselves, our friends, family “and lover”. Now doesn’t that sound interesting?

If you buy Jon’s book, amusement is guaranteed; you should be prepared for some hilarious responses, some rekindled memories, an interesting exchange of opinions, revelations, scandal, cringing and secrets revealed!

I asked Jon what I should actually do with the book. ” Take it with you to a party or the … Read the rest »

The Banjo is Live

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Yes! It’s hard to describe the feeling when something you’ve worked on, sweated over, nurtured and poured your heart and soul into is finally live! But from today, you can buy The Banjo (Book One) on Amazon.co.uk

Although today, Friday 13th May, is the official launch date, it went live late on Wednesday night. Within minutes, the first download took place and it was my old, schoolfriend Margaret Richardson – or Maggie Wood as she’ll always be to me – who bought it. She immediately sent me a Facebook message about it, too, which I know she won’t mind me … Read the rest »

The Banjo Is On Its Way!!

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I am excited and thrilled to finally be able to tell you that THE BANJO (Book One) will be available on Kindle from THIS Friday, 13th May! Hooray! Here is what it looks like:

The cover – which I LOVE – is the work of my very talented cousin, Brian Spires, who did the drawing. It was then finished off by the no less talented Lisa Moreno at Vanilla Gecko (www.vanillagecko.co.uk)

It will be out in paperback in two months’ time, for those of you who like a ‘proper book’ but for those with Kindles, mark this Friday in your … Read the rest »

Martina Cole

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Late last year I had the huge good fortune to meet Martina Cole. Petite, attractive and dynamic, she was the loveliest, most down-to-earth person you could wish for, who took the time to chat in spite of being extremely busy.

I did ask her to feature in Hot Holidays! but apparently, she did something similar through Woman and Home last year about Northern Cyprus, which was reproduced on her Facebook page and she got a lot of nasty comments about the events of 1974 and current political situation in Cyprus and, understandably, didn’t want a repeat. Instead, she agreed to … Read the rest »